Cottonland Overland Opine Thread

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wngrog said:
View attachment 1219440 View attachment 1219441 View attachment 1219442 Doing homework since @jasonbraswell is useless
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Bankhead NF roads are easy gravel for the most parts, even a 100 or 200 series can negotiate these roads :D. Bankhead NF is a really cool place and definitely worth the visit. If you're going to be hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness you'll likely be heading in from the recreational area on Sipsey Fork at Co. Rd. 60, but there are other access points. Winter water levels on Sipsey generally run ca. 4 to 4.5 feet. Torrential rains hit the area at Christmas and the Sipsey saw a water level just over 40 feet. The bridge at the rec area was under water.

A good float trip when the water is up is from the rec area downstream to AL Hwy 33, a distance of about 10 miles. Best time to do this is in the early summer before water levels drop. In the summer it's a 2 mile float and 8 mile drag-the-canoe trip.

I know of an old, old cemetery just off Caspey Creek. If a trip comes together I can give directions. It's both cool and creepy at the same time.
 
If you arrive early enough stop at the Bankhead ranger station on Hwy 33 in Double Springs and pick up a map of the forest.

Camping is available at Brushy Lake campground near Grayson. The water may be off and the bathroom locked up but the campsites will be open. Each spot has a picnic table and fire ring. I'm not familiar with other campgrounds in the forest.

There are no good place to eat in Double Springs. The Mexican restaurant is passable but that's all. Moulton north of the forest has more possibilities as in a couple of steak places.

North of Brushy Lake campground and east of hwy 33 are some some forest service roads to drive and you can make a big loop and hit the pavement. There's a historic church, Pine Log Church; it'll be indicated on the map.

You may encounter horse traffic on some roads.

West of hwy 33 are trails into the wilderness. One other access point is the Borden Creek trailhead.

Temperatures in the forest tend to be cooler than outside the forest.

Ownership within the proclamation boundary is a patchwork of USFS lands, private inholdings, and some timber company properties.

You need a week to really see the place.
 
mostly gravel roads throughout bankhead forrest. Not many resources in the adjoining areas, (Double Springs and Moulton) are the nearest towns I recall without looking on the map. Not much is area with regard to food etc... be aware of your fuel quantities...especially on late Sunday, can be a long drive to the next station that is open. There is a "western slizlin" resturant in Moulton thats reasonable, I don't recall much of anything in double springs, but all bets off if you looking for most anything on late Sundays. Be careful of speeding around double springs or if you were on the eastern side and come through addison, you are in an area where tickets are revenue apparently. One other thing I've noticed...be prepared to "know" where you are....some roads not marked and few references at times out in bankhead and the adjoining areas. Many locals have hunt camps in the areas from my observation. I think recenlty they have had some major timber cutting and burn activities out there.
 
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